Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-17
REPUBLICAN "FREE TRADERs.'

REPUBLICAN FREE TRADERS"
While our ultra protection friends are
whooping and yelling about the tree
trade Democracy, let ia examine into the
records of prominent Republican lead
ers In fact it will be more or less inter
estiug to the reader who keeps his horse
sense about him to see just how the sensi-
bic men of the Republican party viewed
this matter of tax reduction, to recall what
those distinguished free traders Presi-
dent ARrHUR, Secretary FOLGER, SeCre-
tary MCCULLocH and the members of the
Republican tariff commission said in 1889,
lsS3 and lSsi respecting tariff reduction.
la his message to Congress in lsS2 Presi-
dent ARTHUR said:
recommend an enlargement of the free
list so ~ 20 include within il the numer-
Gus articles which yield inconsiderable
revenue; simplifCatiOn OF the complex
and inconsistent schedule of duties upon
certain manufactures, cotton, iron and
steel, and a substantial reduction OF the
duties upon those articles, aud upon sugar,
mOlasseS, silk, wool and wooden goods.
In the same year Secretary FOLGER in
his annual report said:
1t is believed that the time has arrived
when q reduction Of the duties on nearly
all the articles in our tariff 10 demanded
and feasible. 10 will probably
be found that in general the reduction can
chiefly be made on the raw material, or
cOarser manufactures, rather than those
upon which q greater amount OF labor has
been bestowed
Then came the report of the Republican
tariff commission appointed by President
Arthur to prepare a scheme of tariff re-
ductiOn. the commission said that the
average reduction which should be made
should equal ~ or % per cent, and it also
said:
4 substantial reduction Of tariff duties
is demanded, not by q mere indisCriminate
popular Clam0r, bat by the best cOnserva-
tive opinion OF the country, including that
that which has in former times been most
strenuous for the preservation OF our ma
tiOual industrial defenseS. Such a reduc-
ton of the existing tariff the Commission
regards not only as r due recognition of
public sentiment and measure Of Justice
TO consumers, but one conducive to the
general industrial prosperity, and which,
though it may be temporarily ipconyenient,
will be ultimately beneficial to the special
interests affected by such reduction.
The act passed by the Republican Con
gress in lSS5 reaIranged the schedules re-
duced slightly the duties on some articles
and increased il on Others. The revision
fell far short Of the recommendations Of
President ARTHUR, Secretary FOLGER and
the Tariff Commission. After this so
called revision had taken place Secretary
FOLGER, in his annual report, December,
1883, used the following language:
So the question still presses, what legis-
lati0n IL necessary to relieve the people of
unnecessary taxes? As elsewhere suggest
ed, it should not he assumed that the sur
plus in the treasury will be consumed by
lavish expenditures for objects of doubtful
expediency or legality, or that the scheme
which has been proclaimed, Of exsctiDg
money from the people for the purpose of
returning il To them BY altering distribu-
ton through State governments will find
any favor with Congress or the people.
This was a direct blow at the BLAINE
scheme of 1sS3-a scheme which has beeL
revived in 1857. Secretary FoLGER de-
clared that he adhered to the views set
forth by him in the preceding year as to
how the proposed reduction should apply
to the principle classes of dutiable articles.
Secretary MCCULLOCH succeeded Secre-
tary FoLGER in 1884, and in his report to
Congress in December he discussed the
revenue question ably and deliberately.
He strongly urged q revision and redue-
ton of customs duties in accordance with
the following principles:
First-That the existing duties upon
raw materials which are to be used in man